Hi, I’m Stacie, Senior Aviculturist and Animal Trainer at Discovery Cove. For almost six years I have been working as an aviculturist, or bird specialist. Over the years I have also been cross-trained to help with the dolphins, as well as care for the marmosets and otters at the Freshwater Oasis.

Now that summer is in full swing, the SeaWorld Education and Conservation Department is busy as ever. Walk through the park, and you’re certain to see our Day Campers in their “buddy lines”, singing cadence songs as they head to their next activity, Career Campers shoveling snow at the Penguin Encounter or helping out during an Azul show, and if you look close, you’ll probably see a few tour guests on their way to another

It’s amazing what you can do with a good plan and a good team. Recently, bird keepers at SeaWorld San Diego led a flock of flamingos from their public display at the park to a behind-the-scenes aviary to make way for construction for our 2012 attraction, Manta. Trick is, this was a flock of 166 birds and our keepers had never executed a move quite like this before.

Every day, heart-warming moments take place in our 10 parks and their local communities – moments made possible by people who are committed to making a difference. Whether rescuing a stranded whale in the middle of the night or coordinating a fundraiser to protect endangered wolves, our team members join forces with government officials, conservation partners and people in our local communities to make the world a better place.

Whew! Things sure have been busy in the Education and Conservation Department these past few months. While it’s true that the summer time can be quite eventful around here with camp programs and public tours, to me, the spring always feels like the time of year with the highest buzz of activity.

In cooperation with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have successfully bred many endangered species. AZAs Species Survival Plan® (SSP) program is dedicated to the survival of selected species like the endangered black rhino.

Today, SeaWorld Orlando became a virtual classroom as more than 157,000 students from more than 3,500 schools from across the nation interacted with a National Geographic filmmaker and a SeaWorld shark expert. The live webcast and Q-and-A session took place in front of a backdrop of dozens of sharks at the park’s Shark Encounter attraction.

We have a lot of fun here at SeaWorld - amazing shows, exciting rides, and endless opportunities for families to have a great time together. But the most important thing we do has always been taking care of animals - both in our park and out in the natural environment. Ever since the very first SeaWorld opened in San Diego CA back in 1964, we have consistently been there to answer the call when animals need our help.